Knife sharpener for slicing machines



Y www? 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nm Tl? @.949 P. H. MEYER KNFE SHARPENER FOR SLICING MACHINES Filed Jan. 8, 1945 ov. 1,1949 P. H. MEYER 2,486,797

KNIFE SHARPENER FOR SLICING MACHINES Filed Jan. 8, 1945 2 SheebS-SheetI 2 /illlflillllf 11511,

M1 "Hf Patented Nov. 1, 1949 KNIFE SHARPENER FOR SLICING MACHINES Paul H. Meyer, La Porte, Ind., assgnor to U. S.

Slicing Machine Company, La Porte, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application January 8, 1945, Serial No. 571,887

6 Claims. l

This invention relates to slicing machines in general and particularly to knife sharpening means for slicing machines. More Specifically the invention relates to knife Sharpeners which are mounted for axial and rotatable movement from an inoperative position to an operative sharpening position.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a novel sharpening means which in its normal inoperative non-Sharpening position is recessed in and wholly concealed within a housing and in flush relationship with respect to a cooperating knife center plate and guard, and which when shifted to operative position may be raised upwardly out of normal nesting position, rotated ninety degrees and then lowered to knife engaging position for knife Sharpening purposes.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a Sharpener for sharpening circular rotating knives, the Sharpener including improved means for limiting axial and rotative movement, there being a Sharpener mounting floatingly positioned in the knife Sharpener housing to permit the Sharpener stones or elements to be shifted properly with respect to the cutting edge of the knife to be sharpened.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent throughout the progress of the Specication which follows.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a certain selected embodiment of the invention and the views therein are, as follows:

Fig. l is a detail right hand elevational View of a part of a slicing machine and embodying the invention, the Sharpener being shown in normal inoperative nested position;

Fig. 2 is a detail vertical sectional view Showing the knife Sharpener in the position shown in Fig. 1, parts being broken away for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 3 is a detail elevational View, similar to Fig. 1 but showing the Sharpener in knife engaging or sharpening position;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional View on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 iS a detail plan section on the line 6--6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the end of the supporting shaft or stem of the Sharpener mounting; and

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view on the line 8--3 of Fig. 5.

The particular construction herein Shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention comprises a slicing machine I having a Supporting frame or housing part 2 upon which there is operatively supported a housing 3 for a knife supporting bracket, Fig. 1. A slicing knife 4 is rotatively mounted on a knife shaft 5 which may be driven through a worm 6 from suitably driven means such as by an electric motor, not Shown, Fig. 1.

A Supporting plate 1, Fig. 4, is secured to the knife supporting bracket to support a knife center plate 8, the plate 8 including a knife guard part 9, Figs. 1 and 3. The knife center plate B is substantially the shape shown in Fig. 1 and includes a base part I0 which rests on top of a part of the slicing machine housing, there being a depressed part II, Figs. 1 and 4, which fits into the dished hollow side of the cutting knife 4. The guard part 9 consists of an integral turned peripheral iiange. The plate 8 is held against displacement by a lower locking bolt I2, Fig. 1, and upper locking element I3, Fig. 2. The bolt I2 has a groove formed behind f its head, and this groove receives a notch or cut-out I4, Fig. 1, formed at the base of the plate B. The front side of the plate 8, Fig. 1, curves outwardly and the notch I4 is formed at this curve so that the plate 8 may be disengaged from the groove of the bolt I2 merely by raising the plate upwardly, whereupon the plate will be released easily from the bolt I2. The locking element I3, which is mounted on the guard part 9 of the plate 8, includes a locking stem I5, Fig. 2, which has an outwardly extending locking end I6. The end or part I6, when in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, will be in locking engagement with a locking keeper I'I. The keeper I'I may be in the form of a metal clip which is fixed to the supporting plate 1, Fig. 2. A handle I8 is secured to the stem I5 to turn the stem so that the locking end I6 may be brought into or out of locking engagement with the keeper I1. The locking end I6 is in locked engagement with the keeper I'l when the handle I8 is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and Z. The handle I8, when moved at right angles, brings the locking end IB out of engagement with the locking keeper I'I to release the center plate, permitting the plate 8 to be disconnected from the bolt I2 whereupon the entire center plate 8 may be removed. An upper lug I 9, Fig. 1, on a part 9 of the center plate 8 ts into a recessed surface 20 formed at an upper edge of the supporting plate 'I to assist in holding the center plate rigidly in position.

The housing 3 may include a part 2|, which houses the knife supporting bracket. The supporting plate 7, Fig. 2, is cut away at 22, and the knife center plate 3, including its guard part 9, is cut away at 23, Figs. 1 and 3, to provide a recess into which knife Sharpener means 24 is received.

The Sharpener means 24 may include a bracket part '25, Figs. 2, 4 and 5, to which there is rigidly connected a downwardly extending rod or stem 2S. This rod or stem 28 is removably mounted in a supporting block 27 which carries a pin 28, Fig. 4. The pin 23 is adapted to be received in a lower annular groove 23 formed in the rod 28 near its lower end, Figs. l, 3 and '7. The extreme lower end of the rod or stem 23 is provided with a notch 33, Fig. '7, to permit the rod 2B to be applied in position, passing over the pin 28 in the block when the stem 23 of the Sharpener '24 is positioned in the block 27. The Sharpener 24 may be applied or removed from the block when the notch 33 is in alignment or registration with the pin 23. The rod 25 also has two elongated grooves 3i, 3| spaced ninety degrees apart, Figs. '7 and 8. These grooves, 3|, 3| communicate with the lower horizontal annular groove 29 so as to permit rotative movement of the Sharpener in the block 27. The pin 28 engages a groove 3| to hold the Sharpener against pivotal or rotative movement. The pin 28, when engageable with one of said grooves 3|, maintains the Sharpener in its normal inoperative or nesting position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the other groove 3| positioning the Sharpener for operative or grinding purposes. The Sharpener 24 is moved from inoperative nesting position to operative Sharpening position by nrst lifting the Sharpener upwardly in a straight line, being prevented from rotative movement by the engagement of the pin 28 in one of the longitudinal grooves 3| during such upward straight line movement. The upward movement of the stem 26 in the block 2'? is limited by the engagement of the extreme lower circular end 32, Fig. '7, of the stem 26 with the pin 28, whereupon the pin 28 will be in the groove 29. The Sharpener 24 is then given a right angle turn to bring the Sharpener to position to be dropped downward to sharpening position. A pin 33 in the groove 29, Fig. '7, is so positioned that when the Sharpener is given the right angular turn, the pin 33 will strike the pin 28 to limit the rotative or angular movement and bring the other of said grooves 3i into alignment or registration with the pin 28. The Sharpener is thus free to drop to cutting position. The grooves 3|, 3| thus guide the Sharpener and hold it in either of its positions, which are nested position, Figs. 1 and 2, and sharpening position, Figs. 3 and 4, the positions being ninety degrees apart. The lower annular groove 29 cooperates with the pin 28 to permit such positioning of the Sharpener.

The lower groove 23 also permits the Sharpener to be removed completely from the machine. The removal is accomplished by rotating the Sharpener (in raised position with the groove 29 located for cooperation with the pin 28) until the lower notch 33 is in alignment with the pin 28. The latter positioning of the parts permits the Sharpener to be released from the pin 28 and for complete removal, the removal position being one hundred eighty degrees from sharpening position, or ninety degrees from nesting position in a direction opposite to sharpening position. The Sharpener is given ninety degree rotative movement in one direction for sharpening purposes and a ninety degree rotative movement in an opposite direction for removal, the Sharpener being first raised in either event.

The Sharpener includes a pair of nesting Sharpener wheels 34- and 35, Fig. 4, which are revolubly mounted on Separate axles 36 and 37, respectively. The axles 38 and 37 are carried on a frame 38 which has supporting side ribs 39, 39 slidable in ways 4|), 49 in the legs of the bracket 25, Fig. 5. The frame 38 includes a body part 4| which houses the axle 3S of the wheel 34, and a connected strap 42 which houses the axle 37 of the wheel 35. Slots 43, Fig. 6, may be provided between the ends of the ribs 39, and a screw or pin 44, passing through a leg of the bracket 25, may be received in a slot 43 to limit the slidable movement of the body 38 with respect to the bracket 25. A coiled spring 45, Figs. 4 and 5, suitably carried in the bracket 25 and contacting the slidably mounted body 38, urges the body in a predetermined direction. Adjusting screws 46, Fig. 5, may be provided for adjusting properly the frame body 38 in the bracket 25, Figs. 5 and 6. rihe adjusting screws preferably engage a gib 41, Fig. 5, interposed between the end of a set Screw 43 and the projecting rib or ribs 39.

The slidable movement of the frame 38 permits the Sharpener wheels 34 and 35 to be positioned properly over the cutting edge of the cutting knife 4, Fig. 4, The cutting edge of the knife When the Sharpener 24, is lowered to sharpening position, will t into the space between the proximate faces of the inclined positioned nesting wheels 34 and 35 and thus shift the body 33 So that the wheels will be positioned properly with respect to the knife edge so that proper and accurate grinding may be had. The wheels 34 and 35, while always maintained in thev proper angular position with respect to each other so as to grind the proper bevel edge, float, so to speak, as a unit to center themselves properly when moved to sharpening position. The grinding may be light or heavy, depending upon the pressure which is manually exerted to the sharpener 24.

The wheel 34 may be cup-shaped and made of abrasive material such as carborundum, the peripheral edge of which is the sharpening surface. The wheel 35 is cup-shaped also and ts within the cavity of the abrasive wheel 34 as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The wheel 35 may be for burr removing and may be abrasive material such as carborundum or it may be made of metal. The peripheral edge of the wheel 35 is the knife engaging surface,

The Sharpener 24 has a cover or housing 48 attached thereto so that the Sharpener will be completely covered and such cover or housing will form an uninterrupted part of the machine. The housing 48 includes a top 49, an integral downwardly depending flange 50, Fig. 3, and another downwardly depending integral flange 5|, Fig. 5. The flange 50 forms a continuation of the guard part 9 of the center plate 8 and is flush therewith, the top 49 being oiset as at 52, Fig. 5, to form a knife guard part 53. The flange 49 conforms with the contour of the part 2| of the knife supporting bracket frame 3. The housing 48 forms. a continuation of the center plate and machine housing when the Sharpener 24 is recessed in position as shown in Eig. l, the housing being flush with surrounding contiguous sur-- faces to make a neat appearance and to completely shield the Sharpener. The housing 43 is secured to the Sharpener body as indicated at 54, Fig. 4, whereby the housing or casing 4B is movable with the Sharpener 24 and forms a part thereof. The housing 3 of the machine may be provided with partitions 55, Fig. 2, to form a compartment into which the sharpener 2t is received when it is in its inoperative or nested position. Ihe partitions 55, therefore, form a housing into which the Sharpener member 24 is adapted to be received to be wholly concealed within the principal machine structure when in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the walls of the housing 43 forming closures for the Sharpener receiving recess and from which the Sharpener may be raised to sharpening position as shown in Fig. fi.

The invention provides a knife sharpener which is adapted to be recessed within the housing of a slicing machine and which when in its normal nested position is entirely concealed, and its housing flush with the knife center plate and its guard section Q as well as being flush with the housing of the knife support bracket. The sharpener is adapted to be moved into knife sharpening position by raising the Sharpener 2li upwardly to the end of its vertical movement and then turning it ninety degrees whereupon it will be in position above the knife. In this latter position the knife Sharpener 2li is dropped into engagement with the knife cutting edge whereupon the wheels will properly position themselves because of the floating or sliding mounting of the wheels within the sharpener casing. rIhe Sharpener is adapted to be completely re moved if desired for cleaning or repair purposes. The device is strong and durable in construction, positive and efficient in operation and may be made readily and economically.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without de parting from the spirit of the invention o-r sacrificing any of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claim's.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. In a slicing machine, a rotary slicing knife, a housing for the knife embodying a guard portion extending over the edge of the knife and a face plate adjacent the face of the knife, there being a recess of substantial size in said face plate opening through said guard portion, a support disposed between the knife and said face plate and mounted for longitudinal and rotative adjustment, a Sharpener carried by said support and bodily movable into and out of said recess, a closure element for said recess carried by said support, a part of the closure serving to close the opening through the said guard portion, and a flange on said closure serving to close the portion of the recess that opens through said face plate.

2. In a slicing machine, a rotary slicing knife, a housing for the knife embodying a guard portion extending over the edge of the knife and a face plate adjacent the face of the knife, there being a recess of substantial size in said face plate opening through said. guard portion, a support disposed between the knife and said face plate and mounted for longitudinal and rotative adjustment, a Sharpener carried by said support and bodily movable into and out of said recess, a closure element for said recess carried by said support, a part of the closure serving to close the opening through the said guard portion, and a flange on said closure serving to close the portion of the recess that opens through said face plate, said closure, when in closing position, being substantially flush with the said guard portion and face plate.

3. In a slicing machine, a rotary slicing knife, a housing for the knife embodying a guard portion extending over the edge of the knife and a face plate adjacent the face of the knife, there being a recess of substantial size in said face plate opening through said guard portion, a support disposed between the knife and said face plate and mounted for longitudinal and rotative adjustment, a Sharpener carried by said support and bodily movable into and out of said recess, a closure element for said recess carried by said support, a part of the closure serving to close the opening through the said guard portion, and a flange on said closure serving to close the portion of the recess that opens through said face plate, said Sharpener and Support, when said closure is closed, being entirely disposed within the connes of the guard and between the said face plate and the knife.

4. In a slicing machine, a rotary slicing knife, a housing for the knife embodying a guard portion extending over the edge of the knife and a face plate adjacent the face of the knife, there being a recess of substantial size in said face plate opening through said guard portion, a support disposed between the knife and said face plate and mounted for longitudinal and rotative adjustment, a Sharpener carried by said support and bodily movable into and out of said recess, a closure element for said recess carried by Said support, a part of the closure serving to close the opening through the said guard portion, a flange on said closure serving to close the portion of the recess that opens through said face plate, and means mounting said Sharpener upon said support for bodily movement with respect thereto, in directions transverse to the longitudinal dimension of said support.

5. In a slicing machine, a rotary slicing knife, a housing for the knife embodying a guard portion extending over the edge of the knife and a face plate adjacent the face of the knife, there being a recess of substantial size in said face plate opening through said guard portion, a support disposed between the knife and said face plate, a Sharpener carried by said support, a closure element for said recess carried by said support, relatively movable and cooperating stern and bored block means joined to said support to accommodate longitudinal and rotative adjustment thereof, said stem having circumferentially spaced longitudinal slots and a communieating annular groove between adjacent ends of said slots, the stem having also a slot extending from its end to the annular groove in a position intermediate the longitudinal slots, a pin on the bored block and having an end selectively engageable with said slots and said groove for bodily movement of said Sharpener out of and into said recess, rotational movement into and out of sharpening alignment with the knife at the outer limit of bodily movement, and bodily movement toward and away from said knife while in alignment therewith, a part of the closure element serving to close the opening through the said guard portion, and a flange on said closure element serving to close the portion of thei recess'` that: opens through Said'l face plate,

6. In a. slicing machine, a rotary slicing` knife; a houSin-g'for-the knife embodying a guard portion extending over. the-edge of the knife and a face plate adjacent the face ofthe knife, there being a recess of substantial size in said face plate opening through Said guardi portion,v a support disposed betvveenfthe knife and said' face plate, a removable Sharpener carried by said support and adapted to he moved bodily into and out of Said recess withsaid support, means joined to said support preventing rotation. of said Sharpener except when the Sharpener is moved out of said recess a predetermined distance, means restricting the rotative movement of the Sharpener to a position above the knife after Said movement out of said recess said.v predetermined distance, means permitting down- Ward movement when the Sharpener has been raised and rotated to a position to bring the Sharpener into sharpening relation to said knife, means limiting further movement of the sharpener in a direction above'the knife except when the Sharpener is iny a rotative position remote from those positions in which it is moved out of'4 said recess and downward into sharpening relation to said knife, Said Sharpener and support being completely removable from the machine when the Sharpener iS in said remote rotative position, a closure element for said recess carried byl saidl support, a part of the closure serving to close the. opening through the Said guard portion, and a flange on said closure Serving to close the portion of the recess that opens through Said face plate.

PAUL H. MEYER.

REFERENCES CITED The following* references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,030,197 Campbell Feb. 11, 1936 2,052,366 Ahrndt et al; Aug. 25, 1936 2,291,260 Strekfuss July 28, 1942 FOREIGN' PATENTS Number` Country Date.

144,908 Grreat Britain June 24, 1920 

